ATPL250A-AKU-Y - G3-PLC Power Line Modem 3.3V | Microchip
MPN: ATPL250A-AKU-Y β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.75 | $7.75 |
| 10 | $7.15 | $71.50 |
| 100 | $6.55 | $655.00 |
| 500 | $6.05 | $3,025.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.65 | $5,650.00 |
ATPL250A-AKU-Y Overview
A power line communication modem is a specialized communication IC that transmits and receives data over existing AC mains or DC power lines, eliminating the need for dedicated wiring. It sits within the broader hierarchy of communication ICs and embedded processors: PLC modem -> telecom interface IC -> network controller -> microcontroller-class system-on-chip. G3-PLC is an open standard promoted by the G3-PLC Alliance and supported by internationally recognized standards bodies, widely deployed in smart grid infrastructure.
The ATPL250A features a flexible architecture composed of hardware accelerators and coprocessors that achieve a very efficient G3 PHY layer implementation. According to the Microchip ATPL250A datasheet, the device supports G3-PLC CENELEC, ARIB, and FCC profiles, making it adaptable to regional regulatory band plans across Europe, Japan, and North America. The hardware-based PHY offloads modulation, coding, and windowing tasks from software, reducing CPU load and improving real-time determinism.
This combination of flexible coprocessor architecture and multi-profile band support makes the ATPL250A a compact and highly efficient device for a wide range of smart grid applications, including smart metering (smart meters and data concentrators), street lighting control, industrial and home automation, and home area network gateways. The 80-pin LQFP provides sufficient GPIO and peripheral interfaces to host application firmware alongside the modem function.
When designing with the ATPL250A, careful attention must be paid to the analog front-end coupling network between the modem and the power line, as line impedance variation directly affects achievable data rate and link reliability. Microchip provides the ATPL250A Evaluation Kit (documented in device document 00002299B) as a hardware platform for evaluating the modem and integrating it into custom designs.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design guidance not found in the manufacturer datasheet, consolidating data from DigiKey, Mouser, Octopart, and Microchip documentation as of 2026-09-19.
Drop-in alternatives for ATPL250A-AKU-Y β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATPL250A-AKU-Y (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Packaging, Product Type, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATPL250A-AKU-R
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$4.18 / Unit
View Datasheet βATPL230A-AKU-Y
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$1 / Unit
View Datasheet βATPL210A
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATPL250A-AKU-Y Specifications
| Product Type | G3-PLC Power Line Communication Modem IC |
| Supply Voltage | 3.3 V |
| Package | 80-LQFP |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial, IND TEMP A) |
| PLC Standard | G3-PLC (CENELEC, ARIB, FCC profiles) |
| Number of Pins | 80 |
| Packaging | Tray |
| RoHS Status | Lead free / RoHS Compliant |
| Green Status | Green, MRL A |
| Architecture | Hardware accelerators and coprocessors for G3 PHY layer |
| Applications | Smart metering, data concentrators, lighting, industrial/home automation |
ATPL250A-AKU-Y 80-lqfp Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for ATPL250A-AKU-Y (80-lqfp package). Pin numbering, functions, and connection diagrams are defined in the manufacturer datasheet. Refer to it for the exact footprint and soldering guidelines.
No detailed pinout data available for ATPL250A-AKU-Y.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
ATPL250A-AKU-Y is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Metering, Data Concentrators, Street Lighting Control, Industrial Automation, Home Automation, Home Area Network Gateways.
Smart Metering
The ATPL250A-AKU-Y is purpose-built for smart electricity, gas, and water metering over power lines. Its hardware-accelerated G3 PHY layer supports CENELEC, ARIB, and FCC band profiles, so one meter platform can be certified across European, Japanese, and North American regulatory domains. In a typical meter design the modem couples to the mains through an analog front-end and coupling network while the metering MCU handles metrology; the coprocessor architecture keeps protocol timing deterministic even under noisy channel conditions. The -40C to +85C industrial rating covers outdoor meter cabinets, and RoHS-compliant LQFP-80 packaging simplifies production assembly.
Recommended
Data Concentrators
In G3-PLC smart grid networks, data concentrators aggregate traffic from hundreds of neighborhood meters onto backhaul networks. The ATPL250A-AKU-Y fits this role because its efficient G3 PHY implementation, achieved through dedicated hardware accelerators and coprocessors, sustains reliable mesh communication while consuming modest processing overhead. Multiple band profiles (CENELEC, ARIB, FCC) let the same concentrator hardware serve different regional deployments. Designers typically pair the modem with a higher-level communication processor and use the Microchip evaluation kit reference design for the line-coupling front-end, which is the most performance-critical analog section of a concentrator.
Recommended
Street Lighting Control
Power line communication eliminates dedicated control wiring in street lighting networks, and the ATPL250A-AKU-Y provides the G3-PLC link for dimming, metering, and on/off commands over the existing luminaire power line. The device's hardware PHY coprocessors maintain communication integrity amid switching noise from LED drivers and aging infrastructure, and its industrial -40C to +85C temperature range survives pole-mounted enclosures. The 80-LQFP package provides enough GPIO and peripherals to integrate lighting control logic alongside the modem, reducing system BOM count. Designers should follow the Microchip reference coupling network to maximize coupling efficiency on long cable runs.
Recommended
Industrial Automation
Factory and process automation often needs data links across buildings or machinery where the power distribution network is the only available medium. The ATPL250A-AKU-Y supports this with its G3-PLC modem operating from a single 3.3V rail, using CENELEC or FCC profiles as regional regulations allow. Hardware acceleration of the PHY layer gives deterministic latency for supervisory control traffic, and the 80-LQFP surface-mount package withstands industrial assembly processes. Integration typically involves an isolation and coupling circuit between the modem and the machine power bus; Microchip's evaluation kit documentation (00002299B) provides the reference schematic for this front-end.
Recommended
Home Automation
Home automation systems use the ATPL250A-AKU-Y to carry commands between wall controllers, actuators, and gateways over the residential mains, avoiding new wiring in retrofit installations. G3-PLC's robust OFDM-based PHY, implemented in the ATPL250A's hardware accelerators, copes with appliance noise bursts common in homes. The 3.3V single-supply operation simplifies integration into domestically powered nodes, and the compact 80-LQFP keeps module size small for embedding in switch boxes and luminaires. Multi-profile support (CENELEC, ARIB, FCC) allows a single hardware design to ship into multiple world regions with only firmware configuration changes.
Recommended
Home Area Network Gateways
The ATPL250A-AKU-Y serves as the PLC-side bridge in home area network (HAN) gateways that connect smart meters to in-home displays, thermostats, and energy management systems. Its G3-PLC modem with hardware PHY processing delivers the range and reliability needed to reach meters at the service entrance from any outlet in the home, while supported CENELEC/ARIB/FCC profiles align with utility deployment standards. The 80-LQFP provides ample I/O for interfacing the modem with a gateway SoC over serial links. Gateway designers benefit from Microchip's evaluation kit to validate whole-home coverage during development.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATPL250A-AKU-Y β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATPL250A-AKU-R | ATPL230A-AKU-Y | ATPL210A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 80-LQFP | 80-LQFP - same | 80-LQFP - same | 80-LQFP - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| PLC Standard | G3-PLC (CENELEC/ARIB/FCC) | G3-PLC (CENELEC/ARIB/FCC) | ATPL profile set (verify datasheet) | ATPL profile set (verify datasheet) |
| Pin-to-Pin Compatibility | - | 100% (same die) | Package compatible, function verify | Package compatible, function verify |
Key Differentiators
- True G3-PLC silicon with multi-region profile support (vs ATPL230A-AKU-Y)
- Hardware-accelerated PHY offloads the host (vs ATPL210A)
- Production-friendly packing via same-die variant (vs ATPL250A-AKU-R)
Design Notes
The G3-PLC analog front-end and mains coupling network are the most performance-critical part of an ATPL250A design. Use the schematic and layout of Microchip's ATPL250A Evaluation Kit (device document 00002299B) as the reference for the coupling transformer, clamp circuit, and PGA/filter section, because line impedance variation directly affects achievable PHY data rate and mesh stability. Keep the analog front-end ground return separated from the digital switching ground and join them at a single star point near the supply.
The ATPL250A-AKU-Y runs from a single 3.3V rail in an 80-LQFP package. Provide a decoupling capacitor at each supply pin pair as specified in the Microchip datasheet power scheme, and place bulk capacitance near the package to handle transmit burst current from the line driver stage. Estimate: confirm exact per-pin capacitance values from the manufacturer reference design rather than generic practice, since the transmit power amplifier draws short high-current bursts synchronized to the OFDM symbol rate.
Do not confuse packing suffixes with functional variants: ATPL250A-AKU-Y (tray) and ATPL250A-AKU-R (tape and reel) are the same die, but other ATPL family members such as ATPL230A and ATPL210A, while sharing the 80-LQFP footprint, implement different PLC profile sets and are not firmware-compatible with G3-PLC stacks. Verify the target regional band plan (CENELEC, ARIB, or FCC) during selection, and budget development time to certify the finished meter or concentrator against the applicable regional G3-PLC certification program.
Compliance Information
Distributor data lists 'Lead free / RoHS Compliant' and Mouser describes the part as Green, MRL A (Microchip material declaration listing A). REACH, halogen-free, and conflict-minerals declarations not found in provided data - request certificates from Microchip.
